Demystifying Workplace Strategy Coaching – A 6 week diary by Armelle McGeachie

Workplace Strategy Coaching – a lived-experience diary

For 6 weeks Armelle McGeachie will be sharing her week by week account of her Workplace Strategy Coaching Journey. She’ll take us through what she thought it would be, what it actually was and how it’s impacted her day-to-day life.

Why is this relevant for people with dyslexia?

Dyslexia in a neurotypical world comes with challenges. I certainly have my fair share of anxiety stemming from decades of not feeling like I fit in and being isolated by not feeling like I’m good enough academically.

Week 1

So, here’s what happened in my first session: I learnt loads about myself.

I was asked where I thought I was in my dyslexia journey, and how dyslexia impacts me and I was given the chance to ask my new coach anything about themselves.

By simply being dyslexic, I had already asked myself these questions 10x over. But sitting down with someone who can guide you through to the right answers is just that little bit more enlightening. As self-aware as I believe I am, there’s always something to uncover.

And that’s exactly what I said when I was asked about the sort of outcomes I want to see. I want to understand what it is I’m not seeing in myself that can help me to improve the areas I know I’m struggling in.

I proceeded to ask a lot of questions in return:

‘Why did you decide to go into dyslexia coaching?’

‘Was it an easy transition into the neurodiversity world?’

‘How does dyslexia impact you and what are your biggest challenges that you’ve overcome?’

Workplace strategy coaching is by no means a one-way conversation, I took it as an opportunity to connect with a fellow neurodivergent person (note all coaches will have a lived experience).

That means we work on my goals together. In the next week running up to our second session, I’ll be reflecting on this analogy:

Imagine everyone has a processing chest of drawers – and the same amount. Neurotypical people can have multiple open at the same time, with items being taken out and replenished regularly. That is, they can focus on multiple things and not be drained by certain interactions.

Someone with a dyslexic mind can only have one open at a time. If another thing to process comes into play, the original draw snaps shut. Then you may have to give it a tug to get it back open and concentrate on it. There may also by that point be nothing in the draw to take out, meaning that your energy is drained and needs restoring.

The likelihood of everyone feeling like this describes their brain isn’t the highest, as everyone with a dyslexic brain thinks differently. This was the analogy the coach shared, and I happened to resonate.

I spoke about my own analogy of what my own brain looks like, and we shared the similarities of it and commented on how everyone is truly different.

We finished off with a more serious conversation, the coach expressing how everything will be kept confidential and no personal matters would be aired, so I could rest assured.

You’d also expect to define a rough agenda, along with times you wish to meet, and the length you want to sit down for.

Until next week!